Warbird Information Exchange

Where do B-17 operators get their glass nose's for their planes? Just curious.....

_________________
"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

I believe the folks at Aero Trader can make them.

Yep---Aerotrader. We bought a new one this year for Sentimental Journey. Good quality, good fit!

Back about 15 years ago I was with the Chuckie crew and we made 10-15 nose glass pieces. A company in Arlington, Texas that made helicopter glass made a mold and a vaccum tank.

I think the B-17 Co-op financed it and they all bought new glass for their airplanes.

They did the same thing with main gear tires form Goodyear ... I think

Just FYI

The blown noses for the "F" and the "G" are different, the "G" nose being shorter to allow for the gun elevations on the turret. It was interesting to see the process the Museum of Flight went through to produce the new blown nose for their B-17F Boeing Bee the molds for which, if I recall correctly, were done by the restoration team itself. A number of companies have done the "G" noses but as indicated, Aero Trader does them currently and does a pretty good job from what I hear.

What's the cost?

_________________
"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Give Aero Trader a call or shoot them an email...
http://www.aerotrader.net/

I heard that the cost is around $14,000.00 each, but it could possibly go down some if more than one were made at a time.